I got some black 20/40 diamond blasting abrasive and it looks good except it has quite a few pieces that look like a thin piece of wire/needle. Is it normal for black diamond?

rrastro

10-20-2012 03:18 AM

mine also has them. doesn't seem to be a problem, though.

Monster Fish

10-20-2012 03:42 AM

I have them as well. If they bother you, just pick them out. Otherwise, they aren't really a problem.

Bubba_Shrimp

10-20-2012 11:28 AM

Picking them out of 4 bags would be a problem :-)
If you say they are fine then I'm ok with it. Thanks!

rrastro

10-20-2012 03:17 PM

Could be different depending on what you have stocked in your tank. I have shrimp and corydoras hastatus. Doesn't seem to affect the shrimp or the corys but these corys aren't the most aggressive substrate diggers. I can see where something that really liked to dig in could potentially injure itself.

james0816

10-20-2012 03:19 PM

hmmm...wire/needle like pieces you say? I'd be a little concerned with cories and loaches with that.

Monster Fish

10-20-2012 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james0816
(Post 2050109)

hmmm...wire/needle like pieces you say? I'd be a little concerned with cories and loaches with that.

I picked out whatever I could find but eventually I was like, "to hell with it!" and just left them mixed in the sand.

Monster Fish

10-21-2012 01:36 AM

Ah, yeah I picked out the medium grade bag since it was said to be easier to work with than the finer grained stuff.

Bubba_Shrimp

10-21-2012 08:56 PM

I wanted to have dwarf loaches but probably will stay with smaller corydoras only for now.

wheatiesl337

10-25-2012 10:01 PM

The last bag of 20/40 I picked up also looked similiar. Don't remember this issue with the first bag I used. I wonder if it varies by batch.

I really like the grain size, weight and color on this stuff, but I am not sure I would use it with any vigourous substrate diggers, which is too bad.

Anyone have suggestions for alternative capping materials that are about the same in grain-size and color range?

microw

12-13-2012 10:10 AM

Yep.

All I know is my assassin snails love the stuff. I have about 20 and it's kinda rare to see them because they're buried deep in it. Also recently spotted a couple of babies so that's awesome!

I also have 3 oto cats that don't mind it, though I do see them resting on my plants quite a bit.

dprais1

12-13-2012 10:21 AM

I've always heard about people being really carefull with substrate choices and loaches/corys. I think it has been pretty well decided that lost barbs is a result of poor water quality.

Barbs are extremely sensitive and should be able to determine what is safe and what isn't before they cut them selves.

I have never actually heard of corys being harmed by any substrate.
I would love to hear at least one story!

beginragnarok

01-02-2013 03:14 PM

My Blasting grit has them (thin strands of glass). Smaller diameter than what is seen in that picture. Be aware of them while you rinse it so as to not stick yourself too much. I have only had a few penetrate my skin and I rinsed mine really well for quite a while before placing it in my tanks.

That being said, my Oto cats rest on the blasting grit often and my cories (pygmaeus, paleatus) have no issues rooting aound in it all day long along with Malaysian Trumpet snails.:proud:

beginragnarok

01-02-2013 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dprais1
(Post 2108464)

I have never actually heard of corys being harmed by any substrate.
I would love to hear at least one story!

Please no stories about Corydoras being hamed.:eek: They are my favorite type of fish. I also think that poor health is the cause of catfish barbels being in a sad state. Healthy aquarium = healthy inhabitants. Right? My co-workers laughed at me recently when I told them about the nitrogen cycle and the absolute nessessity of water changes with large bioloads like they were boasting about. My co-workers don't have aquariums anymore...